The Light Fantastic (1952)
"Love Is Better Than Ever" (original title)

The dancing teacher Anastasia falls in love with the smart theatre agent Jud. He likes her, too, but does not want to give up his solo life at all. Thus she plans a trap for him...

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writer:

Ruth Brooks Flippen

Stars:

Larry Parks, Elizabeth Taylor, Josephine Hutchinson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Larry Parks	...	Jud Parker
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Anastacia (Stacie) Macaboy
Josephine Hutchinson	...	Mrs. Macaboy
Tom Tully	...	Mr. Charles E. Macaboy
Ann Doran	...	Mrs. Levoy
Elinor Donahue	...	Pattie Marie Levoy
Kathleen Freeman	...	Mrs. Kahrney
Doreen McCann	...	Albertina Kahrney
Alex Gerry	...	Hamlet
Dick Wessel	...	Smitty

Storyline

The dancing teacher Anastasia falls in love with the smart theatre agent Jud. He likes her, too, but does not want to give up his solo life at all. Thus she plans a trap for him...

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Plot Keywords:

love | theater | baseball | dance school | talent agent | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 February 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Melhor é Casar

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1951 star Larry Parks was among the first Hollywood personalities to admit that he had been a member of the Communist Party, in testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee. He was subsequently among those blacklisted in Hollywood, and the release of this film was delayed as a result.

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Quotes

Anastacia Macaboy: I had no idea you had to work this hard to get married!

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Soundtracks

"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played on the piano at the dance school

User Reviews

Based on this evidence, let's hope not!

The young Elizabeth Taylor looks gorgeous. But she wears an unbecoming hairstyle. I have read about Larry Parks but never before this seen him in anything. I am very sympathetic to the tribulations he endured as a result of HUAC. Nevertheless, in this movie, he turns in such a sour, uninterested performance, he sinks the movie.

Not that there is much to sink. Taylor, yes. And Tom Tully, droll as her father. However, the ploy is negligible. And, as she plays a dancing teacher, we see dancing children. I love children but not here! The ostensibly cute dance scenes we have to watch wouldn't make it into a small town talent contest.

Maybe MGM was trying to figure out what to do with Taylor, no longer the child of "National Velvet." Thankfully, we have her earlier movies and many, many later ones.